The Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC), a state-owned satellite communications operator, and Eutelsat, the leading European satellite operator, announced last week their plans to jointly launch a new direct-to-home (DTH) satellite to 36° East in 2015.
The satellite will make new resources available to both RSCC and Eutelsat for direct broadcasting and multimedia services to end-users within the European part of Russian territory.
Eutelsat satellites Eutelsat W4 and Eutelsat W7 already operate from the 36° East position for leading Russian digital TV operators NTV Plus and Tricolor.
Financing for the new satellite will be ensured by Eutelsat and the launch will be provided within the current Russian Federal Space Program schedule for 2006-2015. In-orbit operations will be managed by RSCC from its Dubna satellite center.
Russia’s existing television satellite fleet comprises only a few deployed specifically for direct home reception. The greater part – including RSCC’s Express and Gazprom’s Yamal engines – send their signals to regional retransmission centers for rebroadcasting, notes news agency RIA Novosti.
Sources: Eutelsat, RIA Novosti
